2019 Summer Innovation Program

The 2019 MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program (SIP) is a twelve-week internship program that includes the mentoring, guidance, housing, stipends and game development tools to help student teams finalize an original digital game and prepare it for launch.

A chance to work on a game prototype from the ground up

Work with a team of students to help create the next big hit

Industry mentors to help guide you

A free place to live and a stipend

This is not just another internship but a chance to hold the fate of a game in your hands. There are industry mentors and faculty to help you – but in the end it is up to your team to build a successful game.

Update: The 2019 SIP application period is now open. Click here to apply.

The application period will close March 20, 2019 at 11:59 pm ET. Successful applicants will be informed on or before March 31, 2019 at 11:59 pm ET.

SIP19 runs from May 14 to August 11, 2019. Please read the FAQ’s before applying.

FAQs

Who can participate?

The Summer Innovation Program is open to students who will be entering their sophomore, junior or senior year (and graduate students, too) at a regionally-accredited college or university.* Students must be able to commit full-time to a typical work week for the entire duration of program – from May 14 to August 11, 2019. Certain eligibility requirements, as noted above and in the application, must be met.

The application process is very competitive. For example, last year 305 students attending 79 different colleges and universities from around the world applied for the 25 available slots. For more information on the 2018 program please visit our blog.

What disciplines can apply?

Students studying game design, development, programming, animation, art, production and computer science will make up most of the teams, but there is room for marketers, writers and musicians, as well as others, too.

What will you build?

In addition to team-generated projects, on occasion, MassDiGI also works with a number of sponsors that are building everything from mobile entertainment games to educational titles. You will work on a team that is focused on one title – though you will have a chance to help out on some of the other titles.

What is the deal with a free place to live?

Becker College, MassDiGI’s founding academic partner, contributes housing on its Worcester, MA campus for SIP students in a residence hall.

Wait, does this include food?

No, we do not have the ability to provide meals on campus. There are a number of local restaurants and grocery stores as well as kitchen facilities in the residence hall/dormitory.

What does this cost?

Nothing. In fact, you will receive a modest bi-weekly stipend for your work.

What is a stipend?

Money. You will receive around $175 per week for the 12 work weeks. The exact stipend amount will be determined by April 15, 2019.

What games have come out of SIP in past years?

Last summer, the SIP teams created Lead the Light, Line Slide: Paint the World, Spell Strike and CyberDrive 2077 all of which will be available on the App and Play Stores this spring. In 2017, the SIP teams created Raise the Bass, Hyper Thunder Run 198X, Leap A Head and Little Grimm, all of which can be found in the App and Play Stores now. In 2016 the teams created Comet Cats, Smash Crusaders, Colosseum Coach and Takeover Trail all of which are also currently available in the stores. In 2015 the teams created Hibachi Hero, Fusion Galaxy and Ophidia all of which are also available in the stores (Ophidia can be found on Steam and itch.io as well) – and MegaloMalady (aka Germy’s Adventure). Click here for a list of past SIP games.

Do I have to be a student at Becker to participate?

No. The program is open to all college and university students who will be entering at least their sophomore, junior or senior year (and graduate students, too) at a regionally-accredited college or university.* In past years students from institutions such as MIT, USC, Carnegie Mellon, Smith, Champlain, Tufts, WPI, Mt. Holyoke, RIT, RPI, NYU, Wellesley, Swarthmore, Emerson, UMass Lowell, UMass Boston, UMass Amherst, Brandeis, Union, Colby, Hampshire, Union, Brown, Pratt, LYIT (Ireland), IUPUI, Wheaton (MA), Mt. Ida, Northeastern, RISD, Southern Maine, Penn and Berklee have been accepted.

How many students are accepted into the program?

We plan to accept 25 students into SIP.

* The regional-accreditation requirement may not apply for applicants enrolled in non-US institutions. International students must handle their own visas and documents as required.

Are you a company looking to sponsor the program? All sponsors receive:

Branding on the MassDiGI website and at events

Opportunity to provide inserts for attendees to the Game Challenge event

Prominent branding in all messaging related to the program

Invitations to the SIP Open House

And more!

Please contact Monty Sharma (monty.sharma(at)massdigi.org) if you would like more information on SIP or sponsorship.